Woodland Vernal PoolsResearch-based Rapid Assessment

Tool for Conservation

Erik D. Lindquist - M.S., Ph.D.David K. Foster - M.S., Ph.D.

Jeffrey S. Erikson - M.S., M.E.P.C.Department of Biological Sciences

Messiah College

The Woodland Vernal Pool

Definition (Colburn, 2004)

• Woodland context– In or adjacent to

• Isolation– Confined basins

• Size– Small and shallow

• Hydrology– Seasonal, with maximum water volume in

spring– Complete drying annually or every few

years

• Biological Community– Lacking established fish populations– Supporting animals adapted for significant

water drawdown

Pennsylvania• Seasonal pools identified as a priority by the

PA Game Commission in their “Pennsylvania’s Wildlife Action Plan” (PA-WAP) PART IIB

• Interagency coordination identified– Pennsylvania Game Commission– Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission– Department of Conservation and Natural

Resources

– Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

PennsylvaniaIn the PA-WAP, the following prioritized implementation

actions

Level 1 – Develop criteria for the identification of seasonal

wetlands – Develop list of indicator species – Map and classify vernal ponds – Build an inventory and database to manage location

information

Level 2 – Propose practical field techniques to enable land

managers to recognize and identify seasonal wetlands – Encourage public and private land managers to enter

locations of seasonal wetlands in statewide database(s)

South Mountain Study

• Rapid Assessment Protocol

• Public Outreach Materials

Results from our research activities will directly assist agencies in reaching Level 2 objectives.

South Mountain Landscape

Geographic Uniqueness• Represents the northern terminus of the

Blue Ridge physiographic province, extending over 600 miles southward.

South Mountain Landscape

Geographic Uniqueness• May have served as a historically important

biological/genetic corridor for a variety of species (e.g. Eastern Spadefooted Toad, Scaphiopus holbrookii).

One Notable Feature• Abundance of vernal pool complexes within its forest of over 15,000 acres. • Historically estimated at ~600.

Study Objectives

1)Examine trends in biological diversity among herbaceous and woody plants, macro-invertebrates, amphibians, and reptiles with vernal pools and immediately adjacent forests. – Construct ecological models from data collected in

this study. – Anticipated that various anthropogenic, biotic, and

abiotic factors would be identified as indicators of habitat integrity.

Study Objectives2) Assist The Nature Conservancy and PA-DCNR in

the development of a site conservation plan for South Mountain vernal pool complexes.

3) Educate and train on the importance and assessment

of vernal pools (college and

high school students).

4) Disseminate results to professionals and public.

Study Methods• 20 vernal pools• 8 upland controls• Botanical Aspect

– Herbs– Ferns & Allies– Shrubs– Trees

• Zoological Aspect– Macroinvertebrate– Amphibians– Reptiles

• Physical Aspect– Water Chemistry– Volume, Area, &

Perimeter

These studies represent a community-based approach to vernal pools, the first of its kind in the state of Pennsylvania.

Study Methods• Identified vegetation,

macroinvertebrate, and vertebrate species – in each vernal pool and within 1 m

of the shoreline.– point-quarter sampling to 50 m from

pool edge.

• Noted canopy closure and DBH of canopy trees found within the vernal pool and adjacent forest.

• Dip net sampling (not at upland sites).

What did we find?

Results (April – August)Physical & Chemical

Mean

Min

Max Std Dev

Turbidity (FAU)

71.76 26 239 54.81

pH 5.69 4.5 6.8 0.59

D.O. (mg/L) 9.43 4.7 16.5 3.72

NO3 (mg/L) 22.29 3.7 80.9 23.47

area (m2) 408.10

49.68

1409

398.04

volume (m3) 167.82

15.5 475.3

166.37

Results

Botanical Herbs • Herbs - 76 spp. (VP): 34 spp. (U)• Ferns & Allies - 7 spp. (VP): 7 spp. (U)• Shrubs - 33 spp. (VP): 18 spp. (U) • Trees - 27 spp. (VP): 20 spp. (U)

Zoological • Macroinvertebrate - 35 spp. (VP)• Amphibians - 15 spp. (VP): 6 spp. (U)• Reptiles - 9 spp. (VP): 1 spp. (U)

VegetationIn general, greater species richness was found in

vernal pools than in upland sites,especially with respect to herbs and shrubs.

Average Number of Plant Species for Vernal Pool and Upland Sites

43.8

33.3

0

10

20

30

40

50

Vernal Pools Upland Sites

Ave

rage

Tot

al N

umbe

r of

Pla

nt S

peci

es

Herbaceous Plants

• The model R2 is 0.6511 (65.11% of variability explained) with just average NO3 and pH of the pools, and amphibian richness for the site.

Golden ClubOrontium aquaticum

Macroinvertebrates

• The model R2 is 0.5509 (55.09% of variability explained) and the P-value for the overall model is 0.0127 (significant).• Woodland vernal pools could be viewed as freshwater mudflats with season tides.• Perfect breeding conditions for specialist invertebrates.

Predictive Model for Macro-invertebrate Richness

(Multiple Linear Regression)

Variable Estimate

P-value

pH 3.55122 0.0030

Sum Tree Cover 0.04115 0.0269

Sum Perimeter Saplings

-0.37405 0.2342

DO -0.17914 0.2093

Intercept -11.78203

0.0737

Region 1 Federal Indicators No seed dormancy

Herbaceous Plant Rankings for Predicting Macro-invertebrate RichnessRank Name Species Corr. Indica

tor

1 Canadian Clearweed Pilea pumila 0.71348 F

2-6 Northrn Bedstraw Galium boreale 0.68214 F

Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea 0.68214

Lizard’s tail Saururus cernuus 0.68214 O

Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea 0.68214

Rue Anemone Thalictrum thalictroides

0.68214

7 Jewelweed Impatiens capensis 0.66807 F

8 Mountain Woodsorrel Oxalis montana 0.46069

9 White Snakeroot Eupatorium rugosum 0.42862

10 Posion Ivy Toxicodendron radicans

0.41486

AmphibiansImportant Factors• Invertebrate Richness• Seedling Richness • Pool Volume

Interesting Negative Correlations

Herbaceous Plant Rankings for Predicting Amphibian Richness

Rank Name Species Corr.

1 Water Horehound Lycopus americanus -0.47625

2 Arrowleaf Tearthumb Polygonum sagittatum -0.44467

3 Striped Wintergreen Chimaphila maculata 0.41663

4 Common Bedstraw Galium aparine -0.40348

5 Fly Poison Amianthium muscaetoxicum

-0.40336

6 Virginia Creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia

-0.40120

7 Violets Viola spp. -0.35999

8 Littleleaf Buttercup Ranunculus abortivus 0.35833

9 Eastern Teaberry Gaultheria procumbens -0.35309

10 Common Speedwell Veronica arvesnsis -0.32518

Raising Public Awareness• Vernal Pool Walks at King’s

Gap Environmental Center• Forest Pools Preserve at

King’s Gap• Dissemination through

Posters and Booklets• Future plans to develop

educational modules for middle and secondary school students

Coordination with State Agencies

• Developing the Woodland Vernal Pool Rapid Assessment Model to work effectively within Pennsylvania state agency frameworks.

• Encourage state legislators to have woodland pools that fit the model, protected by law.

• Increase cross-agency communication regarding pool assessment, registry, and conservation.

Funding Provided by

Expertise and AssistanceProfessionals: Samuel Wilcock & Charles DeCurtisStudents: Ashley Beck, Michael Currie, Jarrod Derr, Grace Diehl, Scott Forbes, Rebecca Kern, Alyssa Poplaski, & Brooke Reeve.

Michael Redmer, Leo Kenney, Igor Siwanowicz, Bill Summers, Gary Emberger, Michael Currie & Jarrod Derr

Photos